Stereoscopic imaging apparatus

Abstract

A stereoscopic imaging apparatus includes: a first and second imaging units, each of which has a substantially rectangular shape, and each of which has a thick section and a thin section that are arranged side by side; and a camera body which has a substantially rectangular shape, and in which the first and second imaging units are arranged side by side in a lateral direction of the camera body, wherein the first and second imaging units are arranged so that the thin section of the first imaging unit is positioned at an outer side of the camera body and so that the thick section of the second imaging unit is positioned at the outer side, the first imaging unit is arranged in parallel with the lateral direction, and the second imaging unit is arranged so as to be inclined inward by a predetermined angle with respect to the lateral direction.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A stereoscopic imaging apparatus comprising:
 a first and second imaging units, each of which has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, and each of which has a thick section and a thin section that are arranged side by side; and   a camera body which has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, and in which the first and second imaging units are arranged side by side in a lateral direction of the camera body,   wherein the first and second imaging units are arranged in the camera body so that the thin section of the first imaging unit is positioned at an outer side of the camera body and so that the thick section of the second imaging unit is positioned at the outer side of the camera body,   wherein the first imaging unit is arranged in parallel with the lateral direction of the camera body, and   wherein the second imaging unit is arranged so as to be inclined inward by a predetermined angle with respect to the lateral direction of the camera body.   
     
     
         2 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a connecting member which connects the first and second imaging units to each other; and   an attaching member which attaches the second imaging unit to the connecting member,   wherein the attaching member is arranged in a space formed between the second imaging unit and the camera body.   
     
     
         3 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second imaging unit is arranged in a space formed between the front surface of the second imaging unit and the camera body.   
     
     
         4 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein
 the second imaging unit is arranged in a space formed between the rear surface of the thin section of the second imaging unit and the rear surface of the camera body.   
     
     
         5 . A stereoscopic imaging apparatus comprising:
 a first and second imaging units, each of which has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above;   a camera body, on a front surface of which a projecting section is formed, which has a substantially rectangular shape when viewed from above, and in which the first and second imaging units are arranged side by side in a lateral direction of the camera body; and   a barrier which is arranged on the front surface of the camera body so as to avoid the projecting section,   wherein the first imaging unit is arranged in parallel with the lateral direction of the camera body, and   wherein the second imaging unit is arranged on a rear surface of the projecting section so as to be inclined inward by a predetermined angle with respect to the lateral direction of the camera body.   
     
     
         6 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the projecting section has a height substantially equal to the thickness of the barrier.   
     
     
         7 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein
 the first and second imaging unit each comprises:   an imaging element provided on a bottom surface thereof;   an opening section formed in the front surface thereof; and   a bending optical system which bends subject light entering from the opening section to form an image of the subject light thereon.   
     
     
         8 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 5 , wherein
 the first and second imaging unit each comprises:   an imaging element provided on a bottom surface thereof;   an opening section formed in the front surface thereof; and   a bending optical system which bends subject light entering from the opening section to form an image of the subject light thereon.   
     
     
         9 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a photographing mode switching device which switches between a stereoscopic image photographing mode for photographing a stereoscopic image by using both the first and second imaging units and a plane image photographing mode for photographing a plane image by using one of the first and second imaging units; and   a control device which, when the photographing mode is switched to the plane image photographing mode, performs a photographing operation by using the first imaging unit.   
     
     
         10 . The stereoscopic imaging apparatus according to  claim 5 , further comprising:
 a photographing mode switching device which switches between a stereoscopic image photographing mode for photographing a stereoscopic image by using both the first and second imaging units and a plane image photographing mode for photographing a plane image by using one of the first and second imaging units; and   a control device which, when the photographing mode is switched to the plane image photographing mode, performs a photographing operation by using the first imaging unit.